What I can see

This building is very interesting. Despite the fact that many architectural elements and orders are combined, there is harmony and balance. Its facades are symmetrical, it has a tripartite structure and the central axis is emphasized. The volumes are split and the variety of architectural elements includes Neoclassicism, Italian Renaissance (east facade), Baroque, Art Nouveau (e.g. plant reliefs) and elements of local folk architecture such as the sahnisi (enclosed balcony) on the north side. The entrance with a balcony gives a monumental character to the building and the ceiling of the first balcony is richly decorated with paintings. The living room is a central elongated space, around which the rooms and staircases are arranged. The building was damaged in the 1978 earthquake and today remains deserted.

What I can't see

The building was the residence of the Jewish brothers Liezer and Jacob Nefus. Afterwards, it was auctioned and sold to the merchant Athanasios Vikas, and it was later bought by the Israeli community to house the Yosef Isaac Nissim School and the Italia Yasan Synagogue. The building, however, was rented as early as 1917 to house the synagogue.

Info

• Address: 48 Velissariou St.

Bibliography